Loading apparatus



April 6; 1929. N. D. LEVIN 1,709,082

v LOADING APPA AT S Original Filed 15 3 Sheets-Sheet 1 n N J n a 0 K UH i I H I O 00 o WITNESSES; 3 INVENTOR.

MAM MM c A ATTORNEY.

April 16, 1929. N. D. LEVIN LOADING APPARA' JUS Original Filed Aug. 1, 1915 5 Sheets-Sheet ORNEY.

wlTNEssEsig 7% C, 4440.

N. D. LEVIN April 16, 1929.

LOADING APPARATUS Original Filed g- 1 1 5 Sheets-Sheet INVENTQR.

AT'l ORNEY WITNESSES a WV W Patented Apr. 16, 1929.

UNITED- STATES PATENT OFFICE.

NILS D. LEVIN, OF COLUMBUS, OH-EO, ASSIGNOR TO THE JEFFREY MANUFACTURING COMPANY, OF COLUMBUS, OHIO, A CORPORATION OF OHIO.

LOADING APPARATUS.

Original application filed August 1, 1913, Serial No. 782,522. Divided and this applica tion filed February 28, 1919. Serial No. 279,729. ,Ibenewed. May 4, 1926.

The present invention relates to certain new and useful improvements in loading apparatus adapted for use in coal mines for loading the broken down coal into suitably positioned cars for transportation from the mine. 1

In my co-pending application, Serial No. 782,522, filed August 1st, 1913, renewed as Serial No. 397,155, July 17, 1920, and now Patent 1,378,860, May 17, 1921, of whichthe present application is a division, I have disclosed a mining and loading machine provided with simultaneously acting devices for (1) undercuttin (2) shearing, and breaking down the coal, and (4) with conveyers adapted to receive the coal as it is broken down and to remove it rearwardly of the machine and deposit it, in conveniently positioned minecars, for transportation from the mine.

Included in the loading devices shown in that applicationare the hereinafter described attachments whereby the rearward section of the loading conveyer is connected with the main frame of the machine and adapted to lateral movement about a pivotal support.

One object of'this invention is to provide, in a machine of the class described, improved pivotal devices whereby the delivery end of the loading conveyer is adapted to be easily swung from side to side of the machine.

Another object of the invention is to pro- Vide in such pivotal devices means whereby said conveyer may beconveniently attached to or detached from the main frame of the mining machine.

These and other objects .will appear in the following specification, reference being had to the accompanying drawings of which Fig. 1 is a .general plan view of a mining and loading machine illustrating one physical embodiment of my invention.

Fig. 2 is a side elevation of the machine illustrated in Fig. 1.

Fig. 3 is a fragmentary side elevation, on an enlarged scale, partly in sections, of the ,pivotalsupporting devices by which thedelivery sections of the loading conveyer are removably attached to the frame of the machine.

Fig. 4 is a plan view of the devices illus trated in Fig. 3, certain parts being broken away to reveal other parts.

Fig. 5 is a transverse sectional view taken alon the line VV of Figs. 3 and 4.

Lille numerals refer to like parts in the several figures.

Stated very briefly the machine, illustrated in Figs 1 and 2 of the drawings, comprises five principal parts. These parts are (1) the undercutting mechanism indicated by the character A, (2) the vertical shearing devices B and B, which are of the-same general type, (3) the breaking down mechanism C, (4) the primary conveyer D, and (5) the secondary or loading conveyer E. These principal parts (or their equivalents) are co-op eratively connected'together and are mounted upon a main frame 1 which is supported upon a pan or shoe 2 resting directly upon the floor of the mine. The pan 2 is movable over the floor of the mine to position the machine relative to the material which is to be mined, and the main frame 1 is slidable longitudinally .of the pan 2 to bring .the cutting and breaking down devices into operative relation with said material. At its forward end the primary conveyer D is arranged within the bounding planes (vertical and horizontal) of the undercutting mechanism A, and is carried by it into the 'kerf formed in the body of the vein to receive the material asit is dislodged by the breaking down mechanism C. The primary conveyer D removes the "broken material rearwardly anddischargcs it into the hopper 3 which is preferably although not necessarily formed integral with the .pivot casting l mounted at the rear endof the main frame 1. Supported by the pivot casting 4 is the loading conveyer E the delivery end of which is adapted to extend above the .pit car 5 positioned upon the track 6 in the rear of the nachine. Upon this pivotal support the conveyer E is adapted to swing laterally not only to maintain delivery relation to the pit car 5 when the mining machine is moved transversely of the track 6, but also to permit the use of the conveying mechanism to deposit refuse material upon the gob piles at either side of-the track. As the parts above nel bars 11 and 12.

.10 in any usual or preferred manner, and

the trough thus formed is supported upon a structural steel frame comprising the chan- At the forward end of the conveyor the chains 7 pass suitable idler sprocket wheels 13 attached to a transverse foot shaft 1 1, and usual and suitable guiding and actuating devices are provided which, being of any desired and proper form, it is not thought necessary to show in the drawings, since they form no part of the present invention. The conveyer frame abovedescribed may be attached at its for ward end to the extended side walls 15 of the pivot casting 4. Suitable flanges 16 are provided on the pivot casting to support the forward end of the trough plate 9, and the flaring side plates 17 of the conveyor trough form continuations of the side walls ofthe'hopper 3. Suitable bearings 18 are formed in the pivot casting f to support the transverse foot shaft 14:, and its bottom plate 19 affords the necessary support for the return strand of the conveyer. The devices above described constitute a self contained conveyer which is supported upon and attached to the main frame 1 of the mining machine in the manner to be herein after described. Secured in any suitable and preferred manner to the main frame casting 1 of the mining machine is a rearwardly projecting extension 20 which constitutes the supporting base of the pivot upon which the loading conveyor E is mounted. In this supporting base casting 20 is formed a recess 21' wherein is mounted a pivot pin 22 fitted at its lower end'with 'a suitable nut 23 adapted to bear against ball bearing 24 interposed between said nut and the under surface of the base plate casting 19.- The pivot pin 22 is adapted to extend upwardly through an elongated I aperture 25 in the bottom plate 19 of the insertion and withdrawal of the head 26 the "ethrough. A transverse pin 28, inserted in suitable apertures of the pivot casting 4,

engages the pivot pin 22 to prevent its relative movement longitudinally of the verse pin 28 is withdrawn, relative move ment of the parts is possible, so that the pivot pin '22 may move longitudinally of the aperture 25, and the pivot casting 4: when moved rearwardly will effect disengagement of the head 26 and the flange 27, thereby permitting the upward movement and removal of the pivot casting 4 and th attached loading conveyer E.

Journaled in suitable bearings 29 formed in the stiffening flanges 30 of the pivot casting a rearwardly of the aperture 25 are two fulcrum rollers 31 adapted to bear upon the annular track flange 32 formed on the supporting base 20, concentric with the pivot pin 22, These fulcrum rollers 31 support the overhanging weight of the conveyer E, while the tendency of the conveyer to rotate about said fulcrum is resisted throughthe pivot pin 22 by the ball hearing 24.

By the devices above described'theconveyer it is securely attached to the main frameof the mining machine in a manner which permits its quick and convenient removal, the attaching devices constituting a pivotal support wherein the friction of the parts is so reduced that the overhanging delivery end of the conveyor may be easily swung from side to side of the machine.

It is to be understood that while I have disclosed a particular embodiment of my invention, I do not confine myself to the exact mechanical expedients herein set forth; it being obvious that the construction may be varied, within the range of mechanical skill, and yet remain within the scope of my invention. 7

What I claim is 1. In a loading apparatus, the combination of a supporting base, conveyor mechanism including an elongated frame supported at its forward end upon said base, a vertically extending bolt mounted in said base and having a laterally extending head adapted to be projected through an opening adjacent the forward end of said conveyor frame, and means effective upon longitudinal movement of said conveyor frame to engage said bolt head to prevent upward movement of the forward end of said conveyor frame relative to said base. V

2. In a loading apparatus, the combination of a supporting base, conveyer mechanism including an elongated frame supported at its forward end upon said base, a vertically extending bolt mounteduponsaid base and having alaterally projecting headadapted to be projected through an opening adjacent the forward end of said conveyer frame, means effective upon longitudinal movement of said frame to engage said bolt head to prevent upward movement of the forward end of said conveyer frame relative to said base, and means to retain said parts in engaged relation.

, 3. In a loading apparatus, the combination of a supporting base, conveyer mechanism including an elongated frame supported at its forward end upon said base, a vertically extending bolt mounted in said base and having a laterally extending head adapted to be projected through an opening adjacent the forward end of said conveyer frame, means effective upon longi-v tudinal movement of said frame to engage said bolt head to prevent upward movement of the forward end of said conveyer frame relative to said base, meansvto retain said parts in engaged relation, and means to support said frame for rotation about said bolt.

4:. In a loading apparatus, the combination of a supporting base, conveyer mechanism including an elongated frame supported at its forward end upon said base, a vertically extending bolt mounted in said base and having a laterally extending head adapted to be projected through an opening adjacent the forward end of said conveyer frame, means effective upon longitudinal movement of said frame to engage said bolt to prevent upward movement of the forward end of said conveyer relative to said base, means to retain said parts in engaged relation, and antifriction devices to support said frame for rotation about said bolt.

5. In a loading apparatus, the combination of a supporting base, a conveyor mechanism comprising an elongated frame mounted upon said base, a vertically disposed pivot member engaged with said base, and said conveyor frame and about which said frame is rotatable, anti-friction fulcrum devices between said pivot member and the center of gravity of said conveyor mechanism, and other anti-friction devices associated with said pivot member to receive the upward pull of the pivoted inner end of said conveyor mechanism upon said pivot member.

6. In a loading apparatus, the combination of a main frame, an elongated conveyer mounted upon and projecting beyond said main frame, pivotal devices interposed between said conveyer and said main frame about which said conveyer is horizontally rotatable, fulcrum rollers mounted upon said conveyer rearwardly of said pivot and engaging said main frame, and means associated with said pivot and effective upon longitudinal movement of the conveyer to prevent rotation of said conveyer frame about said fulcrum, and means to prevent longitudinal movement of the conveyer,

7.'In a loading apparatus, the combination on a supporting base, conveying mechanism comprising an 7 elongated frame mounted for rotation about a vertical axis adjacent one end of said frame, anti-friction fulcrum devices positioned between said axis and the center of gravity of said frame to support it upon said base for rotation about said axis, and-other anti-friction devices arranged to prevent vertical movement of said frame relative to said base.

8. In a machine of the class described, the combination of a supporting base, conveyor means movably mounted upon said base and projecting outwardly therefrom, anti-friction means in front of the center of gravity of said conveyor to take the downward thrust of the outwardly extending end thereof, and other anti-friction means associated with the inner end of the conveyor to take the upward pull on the inner end of said conveyor.

9. In a machine of the class described, the combination of a supporting base, laterally movable conveyor means mounted upon said base and projecting outwardly therefrom, anti-friction means in front of the center of gravity of said conveyor to take the downward thrust of the outwardly extending end thereof, and'other anti-friction means associated with the inner end of the conveyor to take the upward pull on the inner end of said conveyor.

10. In a machine of the class described, the combination of a supporting base, conveyor means pivotally mounted upon said base and projecting outwardly therefrom, anti-friction means in front of the center of gravity of said conveyor to take the downward thrust of the outwardly extending end thereof, and other anti-friction means associated with the inner end of the conveyor to take the upward pull on the inner end of said conveyor.

11. In a loading apparatus, the combination of a horizontal supporting element, conveyor mechanism including an elongated frame element adapted to rest at its forward end upon said supporting element, and means for connect-ing the contiguous portions of said elements, said means comprising a headed member in connection with one of said elements and adapted to project through an opening in the other of said elements, the head of said headed memher being effective upon relative horizontal movement of said elements to engage the margins of said opening to prevent relative vertical movement of said elements.

12. In a loading apparatus, the combina tion of a horizontal supporting element, conveyor mechanism including an elongated frame element adapted to rest at its forward end upon said supporting element and means for connecting the contiguous portions of said elements, said means comprising a headed member in connection with one of said elements and adapted to project through an openingin'the other of said elements, the head of said headed member being effective upon relative horizontal movement of said elements to engage the margins of said openmg' to prevent relatlve vertical movement 10 of sald elements, and means preventing the 'clisengagement of said headedmemberfrom said opening.

1 In testimony whereofll aflix my signature. 7

NILS 1). LEVIN. 

